Beating the Blues

by Maggie Bailey August 4, 2017, 11:23 am 237 Views 20 Votes 35 Comments

Sometimes we all have down days, since it is very hard to feel happy and upbeat all the time. I think everyone will identify with that. When you get an attack of the blues, there are some methods you can use to head them off, before they become a full-fledged episode of depression, hopelessness and inertia. Here are some tried-and-tested strategies for coping with those low-mood days:

Identify some attainable personal goals – this will give you an upbeat focus in your daily life. They don’t have to be large goals – often just a small one, like going for a run, can make a difference.
Try a few simple things to help improve your mood, even if you are low in energy. Go for a walk or see a friend.
Take one day at a time and one step at a time. Give yourself little rewards when you feel you have achieved something new or different from usual.
Try natural, herbal remedies – St John’s Wort has been found to be a natural mood-booster and is helpful for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Reach out to family and friends – this will help lift your mood and keep the blues away. Learn to trust your supporters.
Keep up social activities. It can be hard when you don’t feel like it, but being around others can help lift your spirits. Make sure you mix with others who are positive and upbeat.
Join a support group – these can really help, in finding that sharing with others in the same boat can help relieve your sense of loneliness.
Pets can definitely help – they make you feel less isolated and take you out of yourself. The fact that you have another being to care for stops you from completely obsessing about your own problems, and apparently stroking and cuddling animals can also help lower blood pressure, so it helps alleviate stress.
Challenge your own negative thinking. Keep a diary to record negative thoughts. If you are always hard on yourself (the common trait of the depressive) try to be more forgiving.
Try not to generalize from a negative perspective or indulge in “all or nothing” black-and-white thinking, such as “I’m no good at….” (Fill in the blanks!)